Advanced Diploma in Geographic Information Systems (ADGIS) and Bachelor in Geographic Information Systems (BGIS) Program Policies

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1 School of Renewable Resources Advanced Diploma in Geographic Information Systems (ADGIS) and Bachelor in Geographic Information Systems (BGIS) Program Policies APPROVAL: 1. Next Policy Review: September Admissions & Standards Committee: February Education Council Committee: 4. Effective: September Minor Revisions: 6. Archive Date: PROGRAM OBJECTIVES The Advanced Diploma in Geographic Information Systems (ADGIS) is a 12-month program that utilizes advanced geospatial technology to provide leading-edge training. The program prepares individuals to be trained geospatial experts in the environmental planning, business, industry and resource sectors. Emphasis in the program will be on providing opportunities for learners to work on real world projects that require the latest technology. This will include enabling students to build advanced expertise in Geographic Information Systems (GIS), remote sensing, Internet mapping technology, database management applications, global positioning systems (GPS), 3D visualization and a variety of related software applications. This is an intensive program designed for learners entering with a recognized diploma/associate degree or higher and a background in computer technology. The Bachelor s Degree in Geographic Information Systems (BGIS) is an extension of the ADGIS diploma that meets baccalaureate standards. The BGIS degree consists of 60 credits earned for admission into the ADGIS diploma, plus 56 credits earned in the diploma itself, plus an additional 15 credits in University Arts and Sciences in subjects of geography and business related studies. Additionally, learners must complete a 3-credit thesis project and successfully defend the thesis to a panel of faculty. In total, 134 credits are required to earn the degree. Students in the ADGIS and BGIS programs are subject to the overall policies affecting all students at Selkirk College, with the following additions. College policies may be viewed on-line at the College website PART I: ADMISSIONS POLICIES A. ADMISSION REQUIREMENTS 1. Academic a) The minimum requirement for entry into the ADGIS program is successful completion of a recognized college diploma/associate degree or applied/academic degree from an accredited post secondary institution in a related discipline. Such related disciplines include environmental

2 Advanced Diploma and Bachelor s Degree in Geographic Information System Program Policies Page 2 of 9 studies, geology, surveying, geography, forestry, business, law enforcement, municipal planning, wildlife biology, emergency services, health care, recreation, or another field deemed acceptable by the School Chair. b) Demonstrated competency in computer hardware and software technology, including database management, spreadsheet use, word processing, computer graphics and presentations. In addition, some proficiency with GIS software applications is recommended. Demonstrated competency includes evidence of successful completion of course work at the 100 or 200 levels. Applicants without GIS software experience may be required to complete a basic introductory course prior to program admission. c) Students are required to complete the Computer Placement Test (CPT) for assessment of their English and Math skills prior to entry into the ADGIS or BGIS program. d) International students will be expected to provide documentation of English proficiency. (Refer to the college calendar) e) Applicants may be required to complete modules in mathematics, writing and/or computer technology skills if knowledge gaps in one or more of these areas are identified by the School Chair. 2. General B. SELECTION a) Personal Reference All applicants must submit two personal references on the form provided in the application package. b) Letter of Intent All applicants must complete a brief essay of 500 words or less that states their background and personal interest in Geographic Information System (GIS). Applicants should highlight experience in GIS and computer skills in their essay. c) Applicants who do not meet formal academic requirements as outlined above may be considered under Prior Learning Assessment (PLA) in consultation with the School Chair. Applications will be separated into two levels as identified in Selkirk College Policy 8610 (Admissions and Standards), namely "fully qualified" and "partially qualified". 1. Fully Qualified At least one of the following conditions is satisfied: a) the applicant meets all of the requirements b) the applicant is deemed fully qualified after the review of relevant experience 2. Partially Qualified a) The applicant is deficient in meeting some or all of the admission requirements 3. Order of Selection Selection and acceptance of applicants will proceed in the following order: a) within the fully qualified level, preference shall be given to those with earlier completed

3 Advanced Diploma and Bachelor s Degree in Geographic Information System Program Policies Page 3 of 9 applications. b) within the partially qualified level, preference shall be given to those considered best qualified and on availability of seats in the program. C. APPLICATION PROCEDURE 1. Before an applicant's file is considered to be complete, the following must have been received by the Admissions office: a) completed application form. b) official transcripts of all relevant post-secondary education, c) official transcripts of high school grades will be required for applicants entering without a credential from an accredited post-secondary institution, d) two personal reference forms completed by a current or previous instructor, counsellor or employer, e.g., supervisor. Personal references should be submitted by the referee directly to the Admissions Office. (Photocopies are not acceptable), e) completed letter of intent. 2. Deadline for completing the application file is normally one month prior to the commencement of the program. 3. Late applications will be accepted if space is available. D. ADVANCE CREDIT (see Selkirk Admissions and Standards Policy 8610, Part I, Sections 4.0, 5.0 and 6.0) 1. To transfer credit from another institution application must be made to, and approval obtained from, the Registrar of Selkirk College. Applicants are responsible for initiating this process with the Registrar's Office. 2. Course equivalency will be determined by the Registrar in accordance with Selkirk College Policy 8610 (Admissions & Standards). Course equivalency will be based upon assessment by the program concerned. 3. A student who applies for advanced standing from a similar program will be considered on an individual basis. 4. Application for advanced credit is to be made prior to entry into the Advanced GIS Diploma Program and students are advised to attend all classes for which they are seeking advanced credit until the credit is formally approved. E. PRIOR LEARNING ASSESSMENT (PLA) 1. A student may request Prior Learning Assessment as per college policy. PART II: PROMOTION POLICIES A. EVALUATION 1. Grading a) Grades and the calculation of the grade point average will be based upon the table below with the exception of the following courses: GIS 320 GIS Professional Development, GIS 490

4 Advanced Diploma and Bachelor s Degree in Geographic Information System Program Policies Page 4 of 9 Project Development and GIS 491 Technical Project. % Grade Letter Grade GPA Equivalent Did Not Withdraw A+ A A- B+ B B- C+ C C- P F DNW b) The courses GIS 320, 490 and 491 will be assigned a credit/no credit grade, (CRG/NCG), as described in Policy This non grade status is recorded on the transcript and is not calculated in the grade point average. 2. Types and Frequency of Evaluation (Selkirk College Policy B3009 Final Examinations) a) Evaluative events will occur as specified in course outlines and will be more than two events per course. b) GIS 490, evaluation occurs on a weekly basis. All activities in which students participate may be considered evaluative events. Informal verbal and/or written feedback and formal, written feedback is regularly provided by the instructor or field supervisor. Formal, written performance appraisals are summaries of evaluative events to date and there may be one or more of these events as well as the written feedback on the practicum project included in the evaluation process. 3. Types of Evaluation a) In both theory and lab courses evaluative events will normally include assignments, examinations, tests and quizzes. These will be specified in the course outlines. b) In the practicum, formal written appraisals will be given using an instrument which is based entirely on the stated performance criteria for the program practicum activity level and/or to write all exams in order to receive credit for the course. c) No single evaluative event can be worth more than 50% of the final grade of any course. 4. Examination Policy a) The schedule for examinations will be published in the course outlines. b) Regulations for invigilated examinations at Selkirk College sites or other designated sites include the following: (ii) tests, quizzes, exams must be written at the scheduled appointment time when invigilation services are available. students leaving the exam room before the conclusion of the exam without the permission of the invigilator may forfeit their right to return and complete the exam.

5 Advanced Diploma and Bachelor s Degree in Geographic Information System Program Policies Page 5 of 9 (iii) (iv) (v) (vi) (vii) no books or other material may be brought into the examination room unless consent of the invigilator has been given. no material relating to the examination may be removed from the examination room. Under no circumstances may materials upon which answers are written be removed. making use of materials, books or notes without the approval of the invigilator, speaking or communicating in other ways with other students, or exposing written papers to the view of other students is not permitted. students in violation of the above items will be required to leave the examination room immediately and will forfeit the right to have the examination evaluated. any questions must be directed to the invigilator. (viii) all completed tests must be returned to the instructor/invigilator and will be kept on file for the required time period. c) Regulations pertinent to face-to-face laboratory and practicum testing will be according to course outline details and as previously described. d) Supplementary Final Examinations (ii) (iii) Supplemental final examinations may be considered under certain circumstances upon written request by the student to the course instructor. At no time will the mark on a supplemental examination exceed the equivalent of a "C" grade. Normally, only one supplemental final examination will be allowed in the program. 5. Plagiarism and Cheating: Definitions (8610 Admissions and Standards PART II, Section 15.0) 15.1 Honesty is expected and required of all students. The purpose of this section of the policy is to deal with honesty in the conduct of all examinations, essays, reports, and other assignments prepared or completed by students pursuant to the requirements of a Selkirk College program or course and as quoted here from: Selkirk College Policy Cheating is defined as dishonest or deceptive conduct or attempted conduct by which individuals or groups of individuals use or attempt to use unauthorized aids, assistance, materials and methods to represent others' academic work, training and standards as their own Plagiarism is defined as the presentation or submission of work or data (published or unpublished in any form), done in whole or in part by other persons, without citation or credit, as the student's own work i.e., a group project, book, journal, electronic media, etc The submission of one's own work for credit in more than one course without the express knowledge of the instructors involved is forbidden Selkirk College will not condone nor will it accept work submitted to obtain credit which was produced through cheating or plagiarism. a) For a first offence the assignment, test, exam, paper, project or other work involved will be awarded a grade of zero to be incorporated into the calculation of the final grade. b) For a second offence, the student will be required to withdraw from the course. c) For any further offence, the student will be required to withdraw from the college.

6 Advanced Diploma and Bachelor s Degree in Geographic Information System Program Policies Page 6 of 9 B. PROMOTION d) A record of the foregoing will be kept in the student's official record. e) Depending on the nature of the offence, steps (a) and/or (b) above may be by-passed, following consultation of instructor, School Chair, and/or Registrar. 1. To qualify for promotion to a subsequent semester a minimum grade of "C" must be achieved in each previous course. 2. A minimum GPA of 2.00 must be achieved in all prior terms in order to proceed to the following term. C. PROBATION 8610 Admissions and Standards 1. Purpose Students may be placed on probation by the School Chair in consultation with the program instructor(s). Probation is intended to provide a mechanism to assist students with unsatisfactory or marginal performance to improve their status in the program/course. It must be noted that it is the student's responsibility to seek the required counselling or assistance to improve. 2. Academic Probation a) A student may be assigned probationary status for unsatisfactory performance at any time during the first two-thirds of the course or program. b) Criteria for placement on academic probation are poor academic performance (failing to maintain a 2.00 GPA or failing course[s]). 3. Criteria for Placement on Behavioural Probation a) A student may be placed on behavioural probation at any time during the term. b) Criteria for placement on behavioural probation are: (ii) (iii) unsatisfactory classroom behaviour (behaviour which disrupts classes and impedes the progress of fellow students), cheating and plagiarism, absenteeism over 10 percent in a course, which continued after a preliminary warning. Note: Further detail on conduct is described under Promotion Policies, Section "D". c) Criteria for removal from probation: (ii) conditions for removal from probation will be specified in the written notification of probation. removal from probation will be achieved academically when the student's performance reaches a GPA of 2.0 and behaviourally as per the terms of the probationary letter. d) Failure to meet conditions of probation: students who fail to meet the specified conditions or stipulated standards, as outlined in their probation letter, will be required to withdraw from the Advanced Diploma in GIS. e) Number of probationary periods allowed:

7 Advanced Diploma and Bachelor s Degree in Geographic Information System Program Policies Page 7 of 9 students will normally be limited to one (1) probationary period while enrolled in the program. D. REQUIRED EXCLUSION/DISMISSAL 1. A student may be required to withdraw as specified in Policy Any student who uses their inappropriately in a way that violates the rights of others will be denied college privileges. 3. Should a student make inappropriate use of the equipment including theft or vandalism will be required to withdraw from the program. 4. Students will be required to adhere to strict guidelines in the use of digital data. A student, who makes inappropriate use of digital data, distributes copyrighted or confidential data, or copies data without permission will be required to withdraw from the program and legal action may be taken. E. APPEAL (see College Policy 8400) 1. A student dissatisfied with a final grade or program decision (e.g., probation, required withdrawal) may appeal the College's action by following this sequence: a) contact the course instructor in writing. b) contact the School Chair in writing. c) contact the appropriate Dean in writing. If the student has not resolved the issue after following the above three steps, the student may then choose to: appeal to the Student Appeals Committee by contacting the College Registrar (College Policy 8400). 2. Students have 20 working days from the time they are notified of their final grades to appeal a grade. 3. Students have two working days from the time of official college notification to appeal probationary status or compulsory withdrawal. NOTE: A student ombudsperson may be available to assist students in this process. F. ATTENDANCE 1. Attendance at all scheduled laboratories, practicum experiences, examinations and other learning experiences is mandatory. 2. Students absent from any Advanced Diploma in GIS course, for any reason, are responsible for the work they have missed. They must make up assignments as required. 3. Absences from learning experiences may preclude the student from meeting the requirements for that course. 4. Students claiming illness, accidents or compassionate reasons for absence from learning experiences must contact the instructor concerned as soon as possible. 5. Students are required to supply a doctor's certificate to substantiate claims of illness.

8 Advanced Diploma and Bachelor s Degree in Geographic Information System Program Policies Page 8 of 9 6. A student who must be absent from a practicum experience is responsible for notifying the agency and/or instructor at least one hour prior to the scheduled time for the experience to begin. G. STUDENT CONDUCT See Selkirk College Policy B3002, Student Code of Conduct: Rights and Responsibilities. 1. Student behaviour in the physical or online classroom that disrupts the class, upsets the learning environment of other students or poses a threat to other persons in the learning environment is unacceptable. Students behaving in such a manner will be given a verbal warning for the first offence and placed on probation for the second offence. Any subsequent similar behaviour is grounds for the compulsory withdrawal from the course in question. Subsequent misconduct will result in the student being withdrawn from the program. 2. A student missing fifteen percent (15%) of the scheduled class sessions in any course will be deemed to have withdrawn from that course unless the student has provided the course instructor with a reason acceptable to that instructor. 3. Students are expected to be on time and prepared for all face-to-face classes prior to entering the classroom. Assigned materials are to be read by students; such materials and textbooks are not necessarily reviewed in class by the instructor. 4. The student is responsible for researching and obtaining notes of missed sessions. Instructors are not expected to give personal reviews to students who miss a class. 5. Students not completing their training in the allocated time period may, at the instructor's discretion, be issued an "I" grade. She/he will have 20 working days to convert the "I" grade to a letter grade. H. ASSIGNMENTS AND EXAMINATIONS 1. See College Policy Evaluation of Student Learning I. RE-ENTRY 1. Students normally must complete the entire program within 24 calendar months of initial entry to qualify for a diploma. Re-entry applicants who cannot meet this deadline will be required to retake courses which have changed. 2. Re-entry is permitted only when space is available. 3. Students in good standing who must interrupt their program may apply to re-enter the program within one year of departure. 4. Students who fail to complete a course successfully may apply to re-enter the course the next time it is offered. 5. Priority for re-entry will be given as follows: J. GRADUATION a) students who interrupted their program for illness or compassionate reasons, b) students who failed to meet program requirements for promotion. 1. Advanced Diploma in GIS a) Graduation from the Advanced Diploma in GIS requires a satisfactory completion of the following courses with a grade of "C" or better:

9 Advanced Diploma and Bachelor s Degree in Geographic Information System Program Policies Page 9 of 9 GIS 302 Introduction to GIS GIS 303 GIS Analysis and Automation GIS 306 Introduction to Remote Sensing GIS 307 Remote Sensing in Resources Management GIS 310 GIS Data Management GIS 313 Database Systems GIS 314 Geodatabase Design and Development GIS 316 Introduction to CAD for GIS Professionals GIS 318 Cartography and Geovisualization GIS 321 Multimedia for GIS GIS 323 Introduction to Global Navigation Satellite Systems GIS 325 Internet Mapping GIS 427 Project Management GIS 329 Visual Basic Programming GIS 331 Advanced Applications in GIS GIS 433 GIS Modeling and Customization GIS 435 Spatial Statistics b) Satisfactory completion of the following courses with a 'CRG' grade in each: GIS 320 GIS Professional Development GIS 490 Project Development GIS 491 Technical Project 2. Bachelor's degree in GIS a) Graduation from the Bachelor degree in GIS requires a satisfactory completion of the following courses with a grade of "C" or better: All courses listed in 1a) and 1b) above b) Satisfactory completion of the following courses with a CRG grade: GIS BGIS Thesis Minimum of 15 credits in University Arts and Sciences as approved by the School Chair.